It could be anything. Armadillos to Zebras (not really :), but I know that Armadillos can tear up a lawn and flowerbed. They don't want the plants, they want the bugs under the plants. Cats are also a possibility, though they are looking to use the site as a litter box. Personally, I would bet on the armadillo. To stop them, there is a spray that I use, which is basically a type of 'scare factor'. The scent is unpleasant to animals, invoking a fear response, which gets them to leave the area and look for a more welcoming garden. It will work for deer, voles, moles...just about anything. And it is humane. I've used Plantskydd for rats (I live out in the country) that were digging up my strawberries. It worked! I wish you well! I know how frustrating that can be. Here is a link that might be useful: Plantskydd

WL, "Any special tips for catching them?" Just don't handle them. It is my understanding that armadillos can carry Leprosy. For that reason, and safety in general, any live catch traps should have protection for your hand at the carrying handle. I suspect that the NWS5300 Universal Trap with built-in nose cone trap would be suitable for armadillos. However, several other traps, like the Wickencamp Coon Trap (Model 302) or the Safeguard Pro Raccoon Trap, are suitable for armadillos. For traps with a rollover release, you should anchor the trap to prevent the captured animal from rolling the trap over and escaping. I lost several large gray squirrels before learning to attach an anti-rollover bar (a short piece of concrete re-bar) to my Havahart traps. If you are trying to catch an armadillo, you might want to use TreeBerry paste bait. If you prefer not to use a live trap, you could try a repellent like Whole Control. I have never used it, so I can't attest to its effectiveness. If all else fails, you could always try "the old reliable" Juicy Fruit gum. (grin) MM

Groundhogs are known to eat only a few inches of the stem and not touch the upper part and leaves. I haven't tested or had experience with hydrangia and groundhogs so I don't know if that is on thier diet. I do know that groundhogs love sweet pea vines and will decimate an entire row by eating only a small part of the vine that lies between 2 and 5 inches above ground level. To protect new plantings from groundhogs and rabbits, surround the plant with a guard made of sheep or very heavy chicken wire. The grids should be no larger than 2 inch square and the wire heavy enough to push into the ground. Form the wire into a circular shape and tie with wire or bend over the ends of the cut ends. Trim the bottom to leave long open spikes that will be pushed into the ground. If you find the guard pushed over and the plants nibbled even though it took some force to do so, suspect a deer. A "two legged" animal (vandal) can also do damage, but their damage is usually non-specific and spread among a variety of unrelated plants, unless it is spite.

Sorry about the new paint but when the goal is to deemphasize, dark is never good. The L shape is the garage. If you want to play down the garage and up play the HOUSE then the garage door needs to fade not POP. Same with the shutters on the garage. That is quite a substantial window meant to give the illusion of home vs garage..is it safe? If those bushes grow up it would be a perfect place for a criminal to hide/break the window..... I do think adding a front porch/pergola gives the home a friendly feel. Still then you are all sitting in the driveway given your home configuration and that's not always a favorite place.